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Healthcare Worker Apparel and Infection Prevention

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Infection Prevention

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Abstract

The role of healthcare worker apparel in the transmission of infections has been an area of major scrutiny. Multiple studies have been conducted without a clear consensus on the best policies. In general, a professional appearance and comfort are factors that are considered when choosing attire but efforts must be concentrated on minimizing the transmission of infections through contaminated garments. Several approaches have been proposed including the adoption of strategies such as “bare below the elbows (BBE).” White coats and other items of clothing such as neckties, if worn, must not come in direct contact with patients and should be washed frequently either at home or an on-site industrial laundering facility. Further studies are required to better characterize the optimal attire for healthcare workers.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Infectious Diseases, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Salma Muhammad Abbas

  2. VCUHS Epidemiology and Infection Control, North Hospital, 2nd Floor, Room 2-073, 1300 East Marshall Street, Richmond, VA, 23298-0019, USA

    Gonzalo Bearman

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  1. Salma Muhammad Abbas
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  2. Gonzalo Bearman
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Correspondence to Gonzalo Bearman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. VCUHS Epidemiology and Infection Control, North Hospital, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Gonzalo Bearman

  2. Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

    Silvia Munoz-Price

  3. University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Daniel J. Morgan

  4. Department of Medical Affairs and Division of Infectious Diseases, Cedars-Sinai Health System, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Rekha K. Murthy

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© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

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Abbas, S.M., Bearman, G. (2018). Healthcare Worker Apparel and Infection Prevention. In: Bearman, G., Munoz-Price, S., Morgan, D., Murthy, R. (eds) Infection Prevention. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60980-5_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60980-5_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-60978-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-60980-5

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